Mick Jagger has said he gets extremely nervous before the first show of a major tour.
Jordan Dyson shares a similar affliction before stepping out on the diving board in a big meet.
Both the Hinsdale South senior and The Rolling Stones frontman have conquered that nervous energy. Dyson just won a state title in 1-meter diving last month, and Jagger, well...
But that’s not the only thing they hold in common.
Dyson, whose father Marv Dyson has been a major player in the radio broadcast business for more than four decades, wants to pursue a career as either a music producer, manager or song writer.
Dyson’s interest in music, however, is not exactly like Jagger’s.
“I’m interested in everything besides performing,” Jordan Dyson said. “I think being behind the scenes is exciting.”
The path to a music career likely will be dictated by Dyson’s future in college. The Burr Ridge resident is considering studying music business at the University of Southern California, taking courses like engineering and song writing.
There could be an opportunity to continue his diving career at the Los Angeles-area school. Dyson visited USC on Monday where he was interviewing for a merit scholarship, and also planned to check out the diving facilities.
Or the 18-year-old could elect to go to Harvard where he would compete for the diving team, but study the music aspect of business independent of his major.
“The deadline for the my final decision is May 1,” Dyson said. “I’m in no hurry to rush this. We’ll see how the next month plays out.”
At the IHSA state meet Feb. 26-27, Dyson finally overcame is nervous nature. The senior captured his first IHSA crown after posting finishes of second (2007), third (2008) and third (2009).
“I had a different mentality,” Dyson said of his final state meet. “I’m usually shaking on the board, but this time I was able to compose myself. I don’t know how I did it.”
His 484.40 score was the 12th-best mark in the history of the state meet and the highest total since 1994. Hinsdale Central’s Dave Boldebuck continues to hold the all-time record with 537.72 set in 1976.
Hinsdale South’s diving coach Lizz Lukes recalled the first-time she saw Dyson dive. During the summer prior to Dyson’s fifth-grade school year, Lukes attended a diving competition at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge and was impressed by his routines.
“I remember asking myself, ‘Who is this little kid?,’” Lukes said.
Ironically, Lukes already knew of the Dyson divers. She coached Jordan’s older sister, Danielle, who was on the Hornets’ diving team as a freshman. Danielle gave up high school diving competition after one year to pursue a career in dance. She is currently a senior at Indiana University and is majoring in ballet and journalism.
When Jordan Dyson entered his freshman year at Hinsdale South, he was already polished for the varsity level after training and competing at the DuPage Diving Academy and Five Seasons.
Dyson captured runner-up honors at state as a freshman and went on etch his name among Illinois’ all-time great high school divers in.
He is the Hornets’ first diver to win a state championship and owns pool and meet records all over the state.
“Jordan (Dyson) is a dream and has gone above and beyond any diver I’ve seen before,” said Lukes, who has 15 years of coaching experience and competed in diving at Downers Grove South and Eastern Illinois University. “He has the ability to self-assess and make adjustments. Coaching him is a unique experience. He brought a level of excitement to our swimmers and our fans.”
Sound kind of like Mick Jagger.
MEET THE REST OF THE 2009-10 WINTER BOYS ALL-AREA TEAM:
Jack Allen
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Despite bumping up to the heavyweight division and giving pounds away to most of his opponents, this junior had an outstanding year for the Red Devils. Allen picked up his second consecutive runner-up finish, this time falling just one point short of a state title. The regional and sectional champion, he wrapped up the winter with a record of 43-2.
Erik Andrews
SCHOOL Westmont
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Coming off a breakout season last winter, Andrews was a key part of Westmont’s continued success this season as the point guard of a 19-win regional finalist. Andrews led the Sentinels with 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and his solid all-around play also included 10 points and three rebounds a contest.
Brock Benson
SCHOOL Hinsdale South
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS Just a sophomore, Benson was a consistent force in the post with his ability to score and defend. He finished 2009-10 by averaging 6.9 points and six rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the floor. This 6 -foot-5-inch forward’s best days are likely ahead of him. The more consistent of a jump shooter he becomes, the more dangerous he will become for the Hornets’ future opponents.
Angel Cabral
SCHOOL Lemont
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Lemont’s first individual state champion in wrestling as a junior heavyweight, Cabral matched that success this season with a second consecutive Class 2A championship (with a 4-0 state run that included three wins by two points or less). Cabral earned a 38-2 record for the winter, and followed his individual state meet domination with a pair of first-period pins and a 6-0 decision in Lemont’s run to third place at the team meet one week later.
Bledi Dervishi
SCHOOL Downers South
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS In his third year on varsity, Dervishi was the Mustangs’ lone returning starter and provided a major offensive and defensive presence inside with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds per game. “He gave defenses trouble,” Mustangs’ coach Jay Baum said. “A lot of games he was double covered, and he did a great job rebounding.”
Jordan Dyson
SCHOOL Hinsdale South
SPORT Diving
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Dyson finished his four-year varsity career with four top three finishes at the state meet and earned his first ever title this past season. His score of 484.40 was the 12th best total in the history of the state meet. The senior was a four-time West Suburban Gold Conference champion as well as a four-time sectional champion.
Vince Errichiello
SCHOOL Downers South
SPORT Swimming
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS A state qualifier as a freshman and sophomore, Errichiello continued his steady improvement each year by becoming the Mustangs’ first individual state finalist in an event since 1991. The junior placed ninth in the 200-yard individual medley, and also was part of Downers South’s 10th-place 200 medley relay.
Nick Kladis
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS The lone returning starter on a team with a lot of inexperience, this senior put together a solid campaign in his final season in a Red Devils uniform despite constant defensive attention. Kladis was one of the leaders in the area with his 18.7 points per game average. The long-range shooter and West Suburban Silver all-conference pick knocked down 80 three-pointers while making 87 percent of his free throw attempts.
Jake Latanski
SCHOOL Lemont
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS Anchoring the lower weights of the talent rich Lemont lineup, Latanski earned fourth place in the Class 2A state meet at 103 pounds. He had two pins at the individual state meet, one coming 19 seconds into a match, and finished the season with a 39-12 record.
Nick LeBeau
SCHOOL Downers North
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS The Trojans’ fortunes usually hung on LeBeau’s shooting success, and the guard often delivered strong results en route to a team-high average of around 12 points per game.
Jake Lechelt
SCHOOL Westmont
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Joining Andrews in a brilliant backcourt for Westmont, Lechelt led the Sentinels with 14 points per game. Outstanding as a creator and finisher in the open court, he also averaged 2.8 steals and 2.7 assists per contest.
Matt Leibforth
SCHOOL Lemont
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS After placing third in Class 2A at 135 pounds as a junior, Leibforth capped a perfect 2009-10 season with a run to the state championship. His eventual 45-0 record included a trio of overpowering performances at the individual state meet (a combined winning margin of 16-3, with a 3-0 win in the finals) and the team state meet (two pins and a forfeit win as Lemont placed third).
Jamall Millison
SCHOOL Downers South
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS Mike Bentley and Otis Wilbut also were backcourt standouts for the Mustangs, but Millison impressed from the start of his varsity career with a strong performance in the St. Charles East Thanksgiving Tournament. He finished the year as the team’s top scorer (12.3 points per game) and a leader with Bentley in assists. “Jamall was really good on defense too with his quickness,” said Downers South coach Jay Baum.
Modestas Masiulionis
SCHOOL Lemont
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS In his lone season at Lemont after transferring from St. Joseph, Masiulionis made a huge impact in every category as the Indians quadrupled last year’s win total. The 6-foot-3 guard led Lemont in scoring, free throws and field goals (nearly 50 percent from the field), and averaged three assists per game as well.
Jimmy Nehls
SCHOOL Downers North
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Capping off a third run to state in as many years, Nehls remained in top form throughout his weekend in Champaign as he took third place at 125 pounds. The junior’s final 41-4 record was punctuated by a pair of impressive hard-fought wins at state, a 2-1 overtime decision in an early round bout and a 1-0 win in his third-place match.
Sebastian Ostrowski
SCHOOL Hinsdale South
SPORT Swimming
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Ostrowski took 12th in the 100-yard backstroke (53.51 seconds) at the state meet. He was a member of the 200 freestyle relay that came in 14th at the state meet in 1:27.85. The junior was also part of the 400 freestyle relay that took 16th place at the state meet with a time of 3:14.13.
Joey Petzoldt
SCHOOL Lemont
SPORT Bowling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Petzoldt excelled at sectionals for the second straight year, rolling a second-place total of 1,326 pins (a 221 average) to place second at the Bolingbrook sectional. He followed by earning 80th at state with a 191 average. Petzoldt also won the sectional individual title as a junior.
Mike Reed
SCHOOL Downers North
SPORT Swimming
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Overcoming mid-season shoulder problems, Reed was in peak form at the state meet as he placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle and 11th in the 100 freestyle. His tremendous late-season surge included setting a new York pool records in the freestyle sprint events at sectionals.
Joe Strocchia
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS This senior came into his own this winter and was one of a program-record six individuals to make it down state for Hinsdale Central. More impressively, Strocchia went on a great run while there and placed second at 160-pounds after dropping a hard-fought 5-3 decision in the final. A first-time state qualifier after narrowly missing out as a junior, he recorded a 39-9 record this year.
Danny Thomson
SCHOOL Hinsdale Central
SPORT Swimming
YEAR Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS Breaking onto the high school swimming scene as a freshman, Thomson backed that up with an outstanding sophomore campaign. He won the 500-yard freestyle at the state meet with a time of 4:30.14, over one second ahead of his closest competition. Thomson also finished fifth in the 200 medley, clocking 1:53.63, and competed on the 400 free and 200 yard medley relays that made it to state but did not qualify for the finals.
HONORABLE MENTION
DOWNERS NORTH
Danny Balderas, wrestling; Cullen Cummings, wrestling; Eric Jagielo, basketball; Conor Ozog, swimming; Kevin Skrabacz, swimming; David Tessiatore, wrestling
DOWNERS SOUTH
Willie Anaya, wrestling; Mark Bentley, basketball; Matt Felsecker, wrestling; Brad Jones, swimming; Jake Mueller, swimming; Frank Wenmouth, wrestling; Otis Wilbut, basketball
HINSDALE CENTRAL
Ernest Battaglia, wrestling; Nick Heiser, swimming; David Lutz, wrestling; Max Morimoto, swimming; C.J. VanWormer, swimming; Terry Ward, wrestling; Tommy Ward, wrestling, Taylor Werkema, swimming
HINSDALE SOUTH
Lavonte Brown, basketball; Phil George, basketball; Adam Jones, swimming; Hutton Wagner, swimming; Jonathan Wanta, swimming; Jimmy Grimm, wrestling; Sebastian Pique, wrestling; Jake Schramm, wrestling
LEMONT
Cody Kamberos, wrestling; Glen Malecki, wrestling; Connor Nagel, wrestling; Derek Nagel, wrestling; Alex Nelson, basketball
WESTMONT
John Crowder, wrestling
